Council Tax - 10 or 25 per cent discount

terryw

A friend and his wife have a flat as part of their jobs on which they pay full council tax. They also own a house which is not occupied on which they also pay full council tax less a 10 per cent discount.

Is there anything wrong with each just registering for one of the two properties so that the 25 per cent single occupier discount is claimed for each?

TIA

fed_up_and_stressed

If they are not physically living seperately at the 2 properties then yes it is Fraud

CIS

Is there anything wrong with each just registering for one of the two properties so that the 25 per cent single occupier discount is claimed for each?

Yes , as above. One of the properties is only being occupied on a temporary basis and therefor the single person discount cannot be claimed on that the property.

The property they are living in only for work purposes is their second home and council tax should be getting paid at the full rate on their home property.

terryw

CIS wrote: »

Yes , as above. One of the properties is only being occupied on a temporary basis and therefor the single person discount cannot be claimed on that the property.

The property they are living in only for work purposes is their second home and council tax should be getting paid at the full rate on their home property.

Thanks for that. The couple have no intention of separating or committing fraud. They are receiving 10 per cent discount on the owned property as it is empty.

It is slightly complicated as the owned house is purely owned by the wife, and the husband has the job with the flat but there is no objection to the wife staying there. They do not wish to sell or let the house in case the job ceases to exist in which case they would be homeless.

To me as an outsider, it appears unfair that they have to pay two full amounts of council tax, but rules is rules.

CIS

To me as an outsider, it appears unfair that they have to pay two full amounts of council tax, but rules is rules.

They're not paying two full charges though as they have the 10% discount - it does however appear, based on what you have said, that the discount may have been applied the wrong way around though.

terryw

CIS wrote: »

They're not paying two full charges though as they have the 10% discount - it does however appear, based on what you have said, that the discount may have been applied the wrong way around though.

Thanks again. Sorry I don't understand your kind reply. Surely the discount on the owned property is correct as it is empty?

CIS

Council Tax has some odd concepts - one of these is 'sole or main residence'

If they have left the owned property only to work elsewhere then the absence is classed only as a temporary absence from the property (even if it's for years at a time) and for council tax purposes it's still classed as their main residence and , as such, still occupied.